When a self-driving car detects pedestrians and makes lane changes, which AI concept is being utilized?

The situation described in the question highlights a self-driving car's ability to detect pedestrians and make lane changes based on its environment. The most comprehensive concept at play here is artificial intelligence (AI), which encompasses a variety of technologies and methods used to enable machines to simulate human intelligence.

Artificial intelligence includes algorithms and models that allow the vehicle to interpret sensory data, recognize objects (like pedestrians), and make decisions (such as changing lanes) in real-time. AI not only consists of machine vision techniques but also incorporates elements such as perception, reasoning, and decision-making processes that are essential for navigating complex environments.

While machine vision is indeed a crucial part of how a self-driving car understands visual inputs, it is just one component of the broader artificial intelligence framework. Therefore, identifying the overarching category that encompasses detection, decision-making, and learned behavior makes artificial intelligence the most suitable answer.